On November 3, the Peoria Unified School District will hold a Maintenance and Operation Override Election in hopes of renewing an $18 million budget increase.
According to the district website, Override elections occur when a school district wishes to increase its Maintenance and Operations budget by ten percent of what the state allows through its Revenue Control Limit. The funds are supplied through property taxes.
The Peoria District passed the measure for additional funds in 1996 and has renewed the legislation in 2001 and again in 2006. Because the measure has already been passed, if it is continued by the November 3 election, taxes will remain the same.
Funding for Maintenance and Operation contributes to the day-to-day workings of the district, meaning teacher salaries, librarians, art and music programs, utility bills, transportation, and food services. “M and O” money does not fund capital purchases like textbooks, computers or building and renovation.
If the election is unsuccessful, the district will be forced to cut $18 million from its budget over the next three years, resulting in $6 million in cuts each year. This could result in larger class sizes, reduced employment of instructional coaches and gifted and arts staff as well as possible loss of competitive salaries.
The Peoria Unified School District governing board is unanimous in their support for the Override Election. According to their statistics, the added property tax necessary for the ten percent increase means around an additional $12.50 per $200,000 household per month. In the past ten years, Peoria Unified School District taxes have decreased.
Sunrise Mountain High School held an open forum sponsored by the district to inform community members about the Override on October 7. In addition to PUSD staff, reporters and Superintendent Denton Santarelli, attendance was limited to two student residents. The District held similar forums at Raymond S Kellis High School and Cactus High School with similar community interest.
District officials are anticipating low voter turnout.